[WATCH] PN challenges Muscat to reveal who signed Gaffarena expropriation deal

"Muscat must reveal who signed Gaffarena expropriation deal"

Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi today challenged Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to come clean on the €1.65 million compensation granted to Marco Gaffarena in cash and select land parcels for half-ownership of a Valletta building and reveal who signed the agreement.

Insisting that the deal “stinks of corruption,” Azzopardi said property given to Gaffarena in Zebbug was valued at half the real value of the land.

“While government valued the land at €192,000, independent architects said the land costs €410,000,” Azzopardi said of the land covering 10,000 square metres and adjacent to land already owned by Gaffarena.

Opposition shadow minister for the environment Marthese Portelli said “it is evident that all properties involved in the expropriation deal were purposely selected and it was no coincidence at all.”

Moreover, she added that according to a report published on The Times, the same Gaffarena illegally occupies the land given to him as part of the deal.

Gaffarena reportedly operates an illegal entertainment venue, Cavett Place, despite an enforcement notice issued by MEPA in 2012.

“Instead of enforcing the enforcement notice, government gifted this land to Gaffarena as part of this shady deal,” she said.

Explaining that expropiation deals are signed by politicians, MP Ryan Callus challenged Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to reveal who signed the Gaffarena deal.